Water tank in cellar

[charlieboy]

In one corner of our cellar is this brick construction which seems to be a water tank. Inside dimensions are 4 feet deep, 4 feet side to side and 2 feet 8 inches front to back. (about 250 gallons)
Would this be normal for a domestic building or could it indicate a different former use of the building?
cb

 

[Flyfisher]

We have something similar in our cellar that I'm not sure about.



As you can see, it is currently filled with old bricks and other rubbish, but I can't think what it might have been used for because there is no access except from the top, which would make it rather awkward for storing anything. If there had been a lower access hole I might have thought it was for coal storage, but there is no obvious sign of a hole being bricked up. Could it have been for water storage?

 

[MatthewC]

Charlieboy

I wonder if your tank had some purpose connected to the function of a fridge? Or else storing ice? Or both at the same time?

Where is Doug - I'm sure he'll have some idea

Matthew

 

[noj]

From here: http://fet.uwe.ac.uk/conweb/house_ages/services/section2.htm

Victorian & Edwardian Services (Houses) 1850-1914
For doing the weekly wash and for other scullery uses rainwater was used. An average sized roof yielded between 21,000 and 35,000 gallons of water per year and so many good quality houses were supplied with large rainwater storage tanks in the basement from which the water was again drawn by a hand pump.